Landowner voluntary easements continue to be signed in Nebraska and surrounding states for proposed carbon pipelines.

At least three carbon pipeline projects — which would transport carbon dioxide captured from emissions of ethanol plants — are being proposed to cross six Midwestern states, including Nebraska. These projects would transport CO₂ emitted from Nebraska ethanol plants and those in other states to deep underground storage facilities in Illinois and North Dakota. Proposed CO₂ pipelines crossing Nebraska include:

The goal of these pipelines is to capture CO₂ emissions from ethanol plants to reduce the carbon footprint. The pipelines would allow ethanol plants to lower their Carbon Intensity Score, potentially providing them with the substantial financial benefits of selling into the California fuel markets, for instance, which require all fuel sold in the state to meet California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

Midwest Carbon Express could reduce annual carbon emissions by 12 million tons of CO₂. Heartland Greenway could reduce emissions by 15 million tons, according to company news releases.

In a February news release, Summit Carbon Solutions stated that the company, so far, had partnered with 2,500 landowners who have signed 4,000 easement agreements, accounting for 1,250 miles of the total route across five states, totaling more than 60% of the overall project footprint.

Impact on farmers

Exactly how do these projects affect farmers and landowners? Nebraska is the No. 2 ethanol production state in the U.S., with two dozen plants producing 2 billion gallons annually, along with over 4 million tons of dried distillers grains and another 4 million tons of wet distillers grains, as well as modified distillers grains and corn oil.

In addition, ethanol provides markets for about 40% of domestically raised corn, along with jobs and economic development for rural communities.

While the pipelines will be routed to connect ethanol plants, they are also crossing farmland. Most farmers and farm organizations favor ethanol, but the discussion is more mixed when debating routing, easements and pipeline construction — making for some contentious debate at times.

Deciding direction

Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue says his organization is largely supportive of CO₂ pipeline development.

“We’ve had a lot of conversation within the organization about this topic over the last several years,” he says. “Our member-adopted policy supports development of carbon infrastructure and pipelines.”

According to McHargue, that support is founded largely in working to ensure a future for Nebraska’s ethanol industry, where success will likely be tied to producing a lower carbon product.

“If Nebraska ethanol plants are unable to tap into the evolving markets in California and other places demanding a lower carbon product,” McHargue explains, “Nebraska corn producers will feel the pinch. The reality is that CO₂ pipelines will be important to growing market opportunity for Nebraska corn into the future.”

As with Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Farmers Union members can fall on both sides of the debate, according to longtime NeFU president John Hansen. NeFU took a strong opposing position to the proposed Nebraska routing of the TransCanada Keystone oil pipeline.

But Hansen notes that the organization also strongly supports the ethanol industry and efforts to reduce carbon emissions. This makes the discussion over carbon pipelines even more challenging for members.

“We support transparent pipeline routing procedures and fair and transparent treatment of landowners, without taking a clear position for or against carbon pipelines,” Hansen says.

Landowner considerations

McHargue says his organization also recognizes the delicate balance of protecting landowner rights in the pipeline development process. He knows firsthand the process of siting and working with pipeline developers, as he has gone through the process with routing on his own farmland.

“It’s always a sensitive subject when you are talking about someone’s land. Landowners rightfully have a lot of questions,” he says. “We’ve talked to the pipeline developers about the importance of working with landowners through this process.”

McHargue says he encourages those approached about pipeline development to think through it and weigh decisions like everything else on the farm.

“Being open about concerns and negotiating specific details with carbon pipeline companies, or similar transmission projects, can help both sides in the process,” he adds.

Policy challenges

Working through policy development in several other states affected by CO₂ capture projects — such as Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota — where state legislation and regulation has been an important discussion this spring, Johnathan Hladik, policy development director for the Center for Rural Affairs based in Lyons, Neb., says that in Nebraska there has been surprisingly little legislation related to CO₂ projects. This leads to more variable county-by-county policies related to proposed CO₂ pipeline projects, he says.

Hladik points out that the CO₂ pipeline projects are unique, and place rural landowners and producers with a challenge. On one hand, they are normally supportive of the ethanol industry in general, and positive reactions about CO₂ reduction strategies, such as CO₂ pipelines, could come from that support. But those in favor of ethanol may also support landowner rights and the rights of those opposed to the routing of these CO₂ projects across their property.

Local communication

In Nebraska especially, land use is localized, with county commissioners and supervisors deciding policy related to CO₂ pipelines, Hladik says.

“That’s why it is so important to be in communication with those commissioners,” he adds. “And they may want to hear information from you as a landowner. It can be a two-way street.”

Maintaining a respectful and open communication line between county officials who are deciding votes in the process can be crucial, Hladik says.

“It has been our experience with projects like transmission lines, for instance, that you want to be there early and often when it comes to dealing with project developers,” he says. “Develop a relationship with people on the front lines that deal with the community. They can be accommodating because there is a ton of gray area here. Ultimately, you will want to find a voluntary easement that you are comfortable with and willing to work with.”

Negotiate details that are negotiable early in the process before signing anything.

Are there other ways?

Besides CO₂ pipelines, are there other ways for ethanol plants to lower their carbon score? Storing the carbon close to home is one solution. Bridgeport Ethanol announced a first-in-the-state partnership with Carbon America last October to capture about 175,000 tons of CO₂ per year — 95% of their emissions — from ethanol production at the plant and store it in a secure underground facility nearby.

Greenhouse gas reductions for ethanol compared to gasoline are already 43% better, according to a 2019 USDA study. Some studies have that number higher, landing in a range between 40% and 50%.

While ethanol plants themselves are investing in upgrades that will apply technology to further lower emissions at the facility, many are looking at the farm level to better quantify on-farm practices that inherently lower CO₂ and to incentivize carbon-reducing practices by farmers selling corn to the plants.